Harrogate Herald - 16th January 1918

War Notes

Second Lieutenant W Wentworth Ainley, Collector of Inland Revenue, Harrogate, and only son of Mr Oswin Ainley, Conservative Agent for the Ripon Division, has been gazetted to the 21st County of London, the London Regiment (1st Surrey Rifles). He served as a cadet at Fleet, Hampshire, and passed his final examination in December last.

Harrogate Herald - 10th April 1918

W H Breare letter

My tenor friend Sam Hempsall has been given a commission, and I expect he will be out in France before long. He had come over to Ripon to report, and on Thursday called to see us. He is very much thinner, but all the better for it. Whilst I was speaking to him at the front I had a word with Second Lieutenant Ainley, son of Mr Ainley, the Conservative agent. I was glad to find the son looking so well.